Hemorrhoid Removal

West Valley Colon & Rectal Surgery Center, specializes in rubber band ligation and surgical excision of hemorrhoids. We educate patients so they understand the different hemorrhoid treatment options available to them.

Over 75% of people will have hemorrhoids their lifetime! Just because it’s a common problem, it doesn’t mean it’s a condition you have to live with.

What range of treatment options are available for hemorrhoid removal? The correct treatment will depend on the type of hemorrhoid (internal or external) and severity of the condition.

What Are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen, inflamed veins in the anal canal that can cause bleeding, itching, irritation, burning, discomfort, and pain. There are several common causes hemorrhoids including constipation, pregnancy, obesity, heavy lifting, childbirth, diarrhea and sitting for long periods of time.

Out Patient Treatments for Hemorrhoids

At West Valley Colon and Rectal Surgery Center, our physicians provide several types of outpatient procedures that will permanently remove hemorrhoids.

Rubber Band Ligation

Rubber band ligation is an outpatient procedure that is performed in the office, where the patient is allowed to return home the same day. The physician will apply a rubber band around the base of the internal hemorrhoid using a tool called a ligator. This tool will aid in placing the small bands around the hemorrhoid. The band effectively kills the blood supply, causing the hemorrhoid to painlessly fall off within approximately 10 days.

Generally, one or two hemorrhoids can be treated with this procedure during one visit, and most patients respond very positively to this treatment.

Patients are usually able to return to normal activities immediately, and one treatment per hemorrhoid is usually all that is needed. This method is more favorable than treating symptoms with ointments because hemorrhoids tend to recur.

The risks involved in hemorrhoid removal with rubber band ligation are low, and patients rarely feel pain from the treatment. Patients are advised to contact their physician if they experience severe pain or fever following the procedure.

Surgical Excision

Surgical excision of hemorrhoids is a procedure where all hemorrhoids are excised, or totally removed, during one procedure. Recurrence rates following this type of procedure are low; however, patients may experience bleeding and postoperative pain. If a patient experiences a reduced quality of life due to hemorrhoids, surgical excision is generally recommended to effectively treat the symptoms associated with hemorrhoids.

If you experience pain from hemorrhoids, it’s important to speak to a physician at West Valley Colon and Rectal Surgery Center. The physician will be able to determine whether hemorrhoids are internal or external, and which type of treatment is most likely to benefit you most. It is also important to determine that hemorrhoids are in fact the cause of your pain and not a more serious condition like a tumor.

Other treatment options administered by a physician include rubber band ligation, sclerotherapy, infrared, laser, or bipolar coagulation, hemorrhoidectomy (hemorrhoid removal), and hemorrhoid stapling.

At Home Treatments

Conservative, at-home methods include stool softeners and topical medications to soothe burning, itching, and pain. While these methods may work temporarily, it is important to note that symptoms will generally recur until hemorrhoids are removed.